Robert Sharoff is a Chicago-based architectural writer and author. Tim Samuelson is a Chicago cultural historian and works for the city’s Commission on Chicago Landmarks. John Vinci is a Chicago-based American architect. William Zbaren is an architectural photographer for the New York Times, Architectural Record, and other publications.
""Sharoff, an architectural writer, and Zbaren, a photographer, offer fresh perspectives on Chicago's Wrigley Building, a high mark of Beaux-Arts classicism in America, in this rich social history focusing on the two men behind its construction."" — New York Times Book Review ""Published by Rizzoli Electa in April 2025, the hardcover traces the skyscraper’s journey from early sketches to enduring civic emblem. Author Robert Sharoff, celebrated for his architectural profiles, collaborates with photographer William Zbaren, Chicago historian Tim Samuelson, and architect John Vinci. Their combined expertise positions the book at the intersection of scholarship and visual storytelling, ensuring both accuracy and accessibility. Opening the volume feels like stepping onto Michigan Avenue at sunrise. Full‑bleed spreads showcase soaring aerials, while gatefolds reveal intricate clock‑face masonry. New images of the tower’s lantern—shot from scaffolding rarely accessible to the public—highlight craftsmanship that still gleams after a century. Archival photographs, blueprints, and advertising ephemera punctuate the contemporary views, illustrating how marketing ingenuity shaped public perception from the start."" — Art Daily ""A faulty clock. An aerial shortcut. Second floor jam-sessions. Here's what we learned from a new book about the history of the iconic Wrigley Building"" — Chicago Magazine